Brown’s “F.A.M.E.” (Jive) arrived at No. 1 with 270,000 units sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ending Sunday. It’s the R&B vocalist’s first chart-topper; his 2009 set “Graffiti” peaked at No. 2. Sales were no doubt stoked eruption after a March 22 appeareruption after a March 22 appearance on “Good Morning America” following questioning about his 2009 Grammy night altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna.

After returning to No. 1 last week, U.K. thrush Adele’s “21” (Columbia) drifted to No. 3, shifting 96,000 (off just 2%). Set is on track to quickly top total sales of her debut “19,” currently at No. 48 with 994,00 sold.

Regrouped New York rock band the Strokes’ “Angles” (RCA) moved in at No. 4 with 89,000 sold. The quartet’s first album in five years matched its best performance to date: Last two sets “First Impressions of Earth” (2006) and “Room on Fire” (2003) both peaked at No. 4.

Gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s “Hello Fear” (GospoCentric) alighted at No. 5 with a heavenly 87,000-unit week. It’s the sacred music star’s best chart performance as a soloist since 2002, when “The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin” rose to No. 4.

The iTunes exclusive “Songs for Japan” all-star benefit compilation settled in at No. 6, selling 68,000 in just three days. It’s the second digital-only benefit set to reach the top 10; 2010’s “Hope for Haiti Now” made it to the apex of the chart.

Vegas rock unit Panic! at the Disco’s third album “Vices and Virtues” (Fueled by Ramen) debuted at No. 7 with a 56,000-copy stanza; act has cooled somewhat, as its sophomore set “Pretty Odd” arrived at No. 2 in 2008.

Atlanta hip-hopper Bobby V settled in at No. 9 with “Fly on the Wall” (Capitol), which moved 38,000.

Coming week should see an influx of still more fresh titles at the top, with big new releases by Britney Spears, Wiz Khalifa, Mary Mary and the physical bow of Radiohead’s “The King of Limbs” in contention.